InformationWeek: Google Gives Free Portal to Non-Profits

They really are better than just, "Do no evil."

Google is giving away its services to do good.

That is a really valiant thing to do. Bravo.

Google Debuts Portal For Non-Profits

This site features ideas and tutorials for how to use Google tools to promote a group's work, raise money, and operate more efficiently.

By Thomas Claburn

Google (NSDQ: GOOG) on Tuesday launched Google For Non-Profits, a portal that provides access to select Google applications for non-profit organizations.

"This site features ideas and tutorials for how you can use Google tools to promote your work, raise money, and operate more efficiently," said Chris Busselle, investments manager at Google.org, Google's non-profit arm, in a blog post. "And to get inspired, you'll also find examples of innovative ways other non-profits are using our products to further their causes."

Google For Non-Profits includes a Gmail, Checkout, Docs, Calendar, and Analytics.

Commercial users of Google Checkout have to pay fees, but non-profits can use the online payment service without monthly, setup, or gateway fees until 2009.

Google For Non-Profits also provides a series of tutorials that aim to teach non-profits how to best use Google's services.

One such tutorial explains how to use Google Grants, which allow qualified 501(c)(3) organizations to place AdWords ads at no cost for the duration of their grant, subject to keyword bid caps, monthly ad spend caps, and other restrictions.

Other tutorials explain how to use YouTube, Blogger, Maps & Earth, Groups, and Gadgets.

Google has committed 1% of its profits to charitable causes though Google.org. It is focused on five major initiatives: developing renewable energy sources that are cheaper than coal, accelerating the commercialization of plug-in hybrid vehicles, responding to emergent disease and environmental threats, empowering citizens, communities, and policymakers through information access, and increasing the flow of investment capital to small- and medium-sized businesses in developing nations.